“They are among the hundreds of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations making a difference in their local communities” said the Rev. Phil Tom, associate for small church and community ministry in the Evangelism and Church Growth area of the General Assembly Council.

Grants are also provided to support training for lay leaders, pastors, middle governing bodies’ staff and seminarians to develop the skills for congregational-based community organizing.

CBCOs ― about 170 of them around the country ― are broad-based coalitions of congregations working in partnership with other community organizations to address quality of life issues such as affordable housing, living wage and job creation.

Most CBCOs are affiliated with major national training networks such as the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) and the Gamaliel Foundation in Chicago; Direct Action and Research Training (DART) in Miami; and the PICO National Network in Oakland, CA.

Grant funds come from the community development portion of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. Recipients were chosen during a recent meeting of the Presbyterian Hunger Program Advisory Committee.